Shipping-case for pictures.



W. B. P. CLOSSON.

SHIPPING CASE FOR PICTURES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8. 1914.

aci 5' Z/JZZRGSJE'J: I A [721/6 ntar:

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO" WASHINGTON. D C.

WILLIAM BAXTER PALM-ER CLOSSON, OF MAGNOLIA, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHIPPING-CASE FOR PICTURES.

Specification ofLettei-s Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1915.

Application filed June 8, 1914. Serial No. 843;606.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BAXTER PALMER CLossoN a citizen of the United States, residing at Magnolia, in the. county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shipping-Cases for Pictures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a shipping case for pictures.

The object of the invention is to provide a shipping case adapted to hold a picture firmly'in position and having a cover which can be fastened, preferably by detachable means capable of being operated without tools, either to the front or to the back of the case. In shipping pictures to be ex hibited in a gallery the pictures have to be crated and sent to an agent. They cannot be sent directly to the gallery where the picture is to be finally exhibited, The agent takes the picture out of the crate and delivers it to the gallery where it is to be exhibited ready to be hung. When the exhibition is over the picture has to be taken down again by the agent and recrated. This leads to a great deal of expense and the crates are not adapted to be used a sec'ondtime.

The device of this invention also is adapted to perform the function of a shadow box in which the picture may be exhibited.

It is further the object of this invention to provide means upon the cover of the case whereby the case can be suspended with any side thereof desired uppermost. The cover of the case is provided with fastening means which can be operated by hand without the aid of tools to securely fasten said cover either to the front or to the back of the case. Vhen it is attached to the front of the case the case is closed and ready for particularly pointed out in the clearly illustrate the device. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevation illustrating one means for suspending the case on a wall. Fig; 4 is a detail front elevation illustrating a means for detachably fastening the cover to the case. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on line 55 of Fig. I.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, 6 is the case consisting of a back 7 and sides 8. V

9 is a bead extending around the sides 8.

10 is the cover of the case consisting of a front 11 and a flange 12 extending around said cover and adapted to fit the'sides 8, with the inner surfaces of said flange hear ing against the outer surfaces of said sides.

13 is a picture and 14. the frame in which said picture is fastened.

15 is the glass for the picture frame, said .glass being protected from'breakage by a strip of felt 16 which is folded around the edges of the glass and extends entirely therearound, forming a cushion as seen in Fig. 2. By this means a thickness of felt is interposed between the glass and the frame or picture not only on both sides of the glass but also extending across the outer edges of the glass, thus preventing shocks or jars from shattering the glass and the picture itself is firmly secured to the case by means of screws 32 projecting through the back of the case and into the picture frame.

The fastening means whereby the cover is fastened to the case consists of a metal plate 17 (Figs. 4 and 5) fastened by screws 18 to the flange 12 of the cover. This plate has a slot 19 therein. The cover is locked to the case by a plug 20 with a flange 21 on its outer end extending transversely thereof. Saidflange is of greater length than the width of the slot 19 and of less length than that of said slot. When the cover is attached to the case the flange 21 projects into a recess 22 in said cover beneath the plate and is turned to the position shown in dotted lines (Fig. 4) whereby the opposite ends of said flange project beneath the plate 17.

The plug 20 projects through a hole 23in the cover 10 and into a hole 24 in the side of the case, whereby the cover is detachably fastened to the case. In order to prevent the accidental detachment of the plug 20 from the cover I provide a cross-pin 25 fast to the plug 20. The ends of the cross-pin 25 project into a cylindrical hole 26 in the inner face of the flange 12.

When the cover is fastened to the case the plug is turned to the position in which the flange 21 is shown in dotted lines (Fig. t). When it is desired to remove the cover from the case the flange is turned to the position shown in full lines (Fig. 4) and pulled outwardly so as to withdraw the plug 20 from the hole 2i in the side of the case.

It is then again turned to the position shown in dotted lines (Fig. 4) to prevent it from accidentally reentering the hole 24 and the pin 25 at this time prevents the plug 20 from becoming disengaged from the cover.

As a preferred means for suspending the case on a wall in order to exhibit the picture I provide rods 27 which are offset at their opposite ends and attached to the cover of the box by screws 28. On each of these rods is slidably mounted an eye 29 which is adapted, when tipped at an angle to the rod 27 to cramp thereon and remain stationary with relation thereto. Said eye is provided with a hole 30 in its outer end through which the picture wire may pass and to which said plcture wire may be fastened in order that the case may be suspended with the picture therein. The rod 27 being offset at 81 at its opposite ends enables the eye 29 to be placed in the position shown in dotted lines (Fig. 3) when the same is not being used to suspend the picture and case.

Holes 24 are provided in the flange 12 of the case and into these holes the plug 20 projects when the cover is attached to the back of the case and said case is in condition to be suspended on a wall- The portion of the sides of the case which is protected by the cover when said cover is on the front of the case can be finished in any desired ornamental manner and will be fully protected by the cover when the case is being shipped, so that when the case is suspended for exhibition purposes it will present a neat appearance.

The general manner of use of the device hereinbefore specifically described is as follows: The cover is attached to the case as illustrated in Fig. 2 by means of the plugs 20. When the case arrives at its destination or at the gallery where it is to be exhibited, the attendant removes the cover 10 by manipulating the plugs 20 in the manner hereinbefore described, withdrawing said plugs from the holes 24, lifts the cover from the case, places it on the back of the case, and manipulates the fastening devices so that the plugs 20 will enter the holes 2 f, whereupon the cover will be attached to the case. The eyes 29' are then slipped along the rods 27 to the desired position in order that the case may be suspended as may be desired. For example, if it is desired to suspend the picture with the long side thereof uppermost the eyes on the rods at the opposite ends of the frame are utilized. If, on the contrary, it is desired to suspend the case with the narrow end uppermost, then the eyes on the rods running lengthwise of the case are utilized. It is evident that either end or either of the opposite sides may be placed in this manner uppermost and also that the eyes may be located at any position upon the rods 27, nearer to or farther from the ends of said rods, in order to get a varying inclination of the case and of the picture when it is hung.

After the picture has been exhibited and it is desired to ship the same the cover is removed from the back of the case and attached to the front of the case by reversing the operation hereinbefore described.

While I prefer to use the rods 27 and slidable eyes as a means for suspending the case for exhibition purposes, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this particular means of suspending the case, as any suitable devices may be attached to the cover whereby the case may be suspended when the cover is attached to the back thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

1.. A shipping case for pictures, a cover therefor, means for attaching said cover to the front or to the back of said case and means attached to the outside of said cover whereby said case may be hung upon a wall.

2. A shipping case for pictures, a cover therefor with a flange projecting therefrom adjacent the sides of said case, fastening means in said flange arranged to engage the sides of said case whereby said cover may be attached to the front or back of said case and means attached to the outside ofsaid cover whereby said case may be hung upon a wall.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM BAXTER PALMER OLOSSON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. GooDwIN, SYDNEY E. TAFT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

